Livestream: Australia U18 Hockey Championships day 7, schedule, fixtures
The best young talent from all over the country went head-to-head in the final matches of the U18 Australian Hockey Championships. Replay the action here.
Other Sports
Don't miss out on the headlines from Other Sports. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It’s the final day of the U18s boy’s and girl’s Hockey Championships in Launceston, which means medals are on the line.
In the boy’s competition NSWS will take on WA in the gold medal match while VIC plays QLD for bronze.
Meanwhile in the girl’s tournament, QLD take on VIC for gold while NT play WA for bronze.
SCHEDULE
UNDER 18 BOYS
Bronze medal 9am - Queensland v Victoria
Gold medal 10am - WA v NSWS
UNDER 18 GIRLS
Bronze medal 11.15am - NT v WA
Gold medal 12.15pm - Queensland v Victoria
RESULTS
Queensland 2 Victoria 2 (s/o 2-1)
Queensland has come out on top after an edge of the seat finish to the national championships.
Jordan Bliss was the hero making the match winning save in a shootout which finished with sudden death after scores were tied at 1-1 following the first five shots.
Hannah Cullum-Sanders gave Queensland the advantage after she nailed her sudden death shot, but the Victorians were unable to convert their own.
In regular time, Queensland’s Georgina West sparked life into the contest just 10 seconds before half-time with a powerful low driven shot.
Sarah Cochran gave the Queenslanders a two-goal advantage just six minutes into the half-time.
Victoria’s Tess Palubiski produced one of the best minutes of hockey of the entire tournament to get Victoria level.
She tapped in at close with minutes remaining from a penalty corner in the third quarter before striking just seconds later.
No side was able to find a way through in a tense final quarter.
Victoria’s Josie Lawton was named the player of the tournament.
U18 boys bronze medal: Victoria 2 — Queensland 1
Victoria has taken home the first medal on offer on the day off the back of a strong performance from the team’s top scorer, Oliver Marshall.
The 17-year-old took his tournament total to six with a double, striking from two penalty corners.
His second goal came just minutes into the final term and appeared to have given the Victorians a comfortable lead with 14 minutes remaining.
But Patrick Sheedy’s first goal of the tournament for Queensland from a penalty corner ensured a rollercoaster finish.
As both teams traded blows, neither was able to find the back of the net.
U18 boys gold medal match: NSWS 2 — Western Australia 1
Fletcher Craig has scored the biggest goal of his young career to win gold for NSW’s State team at the under 18 boys national championship.
The boys in sky blue secured a come from behind victory in a thrilling contest on Friday morning.
The game came alive in the second half when Max Freedman opened the scoring for WA from the penalty spot with a powerful shot past the NSW goalkeeper.
NSW found themselves level just moments later through Rhys Cropper who launched an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
Sixteen-year-old Craig then put his side ahead with a devastating finish as the threat of a penalty shootout loomed.
WA found themselves on the attack with just seconds remaining but desperate defence from NSW was enough to secure the title.
The game wasn’t without its fantastic defensive moments either.
In the second term, WA’s Brayden Fernandes produced a brilliant goal line clearance outing only to be outdone by NSW goalkeeper Nicholas Reid, who made a stunning save at point blank range.
WA’s Hamish Adamson was named player of the tournament in the post-match ceremony.
Hockey NSW pathway manager Richard Willis said a lot of credit needed to go to the coaches and players for their performances.
NSW’s victory followed on from two under 15 titles earlier in the week.
“The boys built throughout the tournament and were at their peak when they needed to be,” he said.
“It’s fantastic to win a gold medal but it has been a privilege to play national championships given the circumstances around the world.
“I thought some of the senior guys in the team including Koby Johnstone, Rhys Cropper and Tyler Gaddes really stood up when they had to today.
“The patterns of play were fantastic to watch in a really high quality game.”
U18 girls bronze medal match: Northern Territory 1 — Western Australia 1 (s/o 2-1)
Northern Territory goalkeeper Madyson Jones thrived under the pressure of a penalty shootout to deliver her side a bronze medal.
Jones made a number of impressive saves to continually give her side momentum in the shootout in a thrilling end to the contest.
The NT started the game on the front foot and appeared to be well in control after Lauren Deldot gave her side the lead after just a minute of play.
A tense middle part of the game followed as neither side created many clear cut opportunities in the second or third quarters.
Saysha Pillay then sent the game into a shootout after she levelled for WA, capitalising on a poor defensive clearance from the NT.
MORE U18 ACTION:
Originally published as Livestream: Australia U18 Hockey Championships day 7, schedule, fixtures
Champion near-drowning and photo finish closes out Iron Series
A close call and a photo finish fuelled a dramatic close to the Iron Series, with champions of the men’s and women’s competition named for the 2024-25 campaign.
America loses it over Aussie megastar
Australia’s Rhea Ripley is taking wrestling by storm as one of WWE’s biggest stars, but her dominance has sparked debate.